'Medical Education Would Go Waste' : Supreme Court Protects MBBS Degree Of Candidate Whose ST Certificate Was Cancelled

The Supreme Court recently allowed a medical student to complete his MBBS education despite his ST (Scheduled Tribe) Certificate being considered invalid, as he had already completed the course during the pendency of proceedings. However, the Court clarified that he will not be entitled to get any further benefits under the ST category.The bench of CJI BR Gavai and Justice Vijay Bishnoi was hearing a challenge to the Bombay High Court order, which upheld the Scrutiny Committee's order confiscating and invalidating his tribe certificate of the scheduled tribe 'Mannervarlu'The petitioner had secured admission to the MBBS course at Respondent No. 3- a medical college, against a seat reserved for the Scheduled Tribe category, based on his assertion that he belonged to the Mannervarlu tribe. During the pendency of proceedings before the Scrutiny Committee, he completed his medical education.Subsequently, the Scrutiny Committee rejected his claim to Scheduled Tribe status.The Court noted the submission of Sr Adv Sudhanshu S Choudhari that the petitioner had, however, made full payment of the fees which were payable under the General category. Thus, the seat after completing allotment cannot be re-allotted. Considering the same, the bench noted that "the precious medical education would go waste, if protection is not granted to him." Thus, the Court allowed him to proceed with his medical education. The bench held : " We are inclined to protect the education undertaken by the petitioner. Therefore, the education undertaken by the petitioner for the MBBS Degree shall stand protected. However, it is clarified that the petitioner shall not hereinafter claim any benefit on the basis of him belonging to Scheduled Tribe category." Counsel for petitioners : Mr. Sudhanshu S Choudhari, Sr. Adv.; Mr. R.K. Mendadkar, Adv.; Mr. Vatsalya Vigya, AOR; Ms. Pranjal Chapalgaonkar, Adv.; Ms. Gautam Yadav, Adv.; Mr. Yash Singhania, Adv.Counsel for the respondents: Mr. Adarsh Dubey, Adv.; Mr. Siddharth Dharmadhikari, Adv.; Mr. Aaditya Aniruddha Pande, AOR; Mr. Shrirang B. Varma, Adv.; Mr. Suhaskumar Kadam, Adv.; M/S. Black & White Solicitors, AOR Case Details : VEDKUMAR v. THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA & ORS.| Special Leave to Appeal (C) No(s). 26461/2024Citation : 2025 LiveLaw (SC) 1133Read Order Here

'Medical Education Would Go Waste' : Supreme Court Protects MBBS Degree Of Candidate Whose ST Certificate Was Cancelled

Anmol Kaur Bawa

The Court barred the petitioner from claiming benefits as a Scheduled Tribe in future.

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